Box Score

For the second straight year the game between Eastern Illinois and Charleston Southern came down to the final play. 

Last year Eastern Illinois won 16-13 in overtime.  This year it was Charleston Southern blocking an EIU field goal attempt with five seconds remaining to hand the Buccaneers a 17-16 win.

EIU fell to 3-5 overall, 2-3 in the OVC-Big South.  CSU improved to 3-6 overall, 2-3 in the OVC-Big South.

The Panthers built a 6-3 lead at the half with a pair of field goals by Drew Schiller from 22 and 30 yards. 

EIU pushed the lead to 13-3 as Cole LaCrue hit Joe McNab on a 23-yard touchdown with 3:34 left in the third quarter.  A third field goal by Drew Schiller from 25-yards extended the Panthers lead to 16-3 with 12:49 left in the game.

EIU forced a second fumble with a recovery on the next CSU possession as Kefa Pereira forced and recovered the fumble.  EIU could not cash in on that turnover resulting in Schiller's first miss of the day.

Zolten Osborne drove the Buccaneers down for the first of two touchdowns in the final six minutes hitting Rashawn Cunningham on a 5-yard pass.   Following a three-and-out by EIU's offense, CSU again put together a long drive capped by Hakeem Watters 1-yard run with 1:57 left to play.

The Panthers quickly moved into Buccaneers territory with LaCrue hitting Cooper Willman with a roughing the passer penalty tacked on.  At the end of the drive EIU set up for the game winning field goal which was blocked by the middle of the CSU line.

EIU rushed for 161 yards with Charles Kellom collecting 71 and LaCrue 64.  LaCrue passed for 123 yards.  Tylan Foster had ten tackles to lead EIU.

Osborne passed for 280 yards for the Buccaneers.  Malik McKinzie led CSU with 13 tackles.